Celtics G Rondo cleared to practice, but won’t return until next month

The Celtics point guard was cleared on Saturday by Dr. James Andrews for full contact in practice, starting his road back to game action, according to Baxter Holmes of The Boston Globe.

Just as the Celtics reclaim the division lead, one of the team’s most important veterans will finally be back on the hardwood. Rondo won’t be ready to go right away, though, as Celtics head coach Brad Stevens told reporters that Rondo still has a little ways to go before he’s game-ready.

"He won’t play in games, is what I’ve been told, until after the 1st of the year," Stvens said.

Rondo hasn’t played for the Celtics since Jan. 25, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Andrews performed surgery on the torn ligament in February, and Rondo has slowly been making his way back in rehab, saying that he wouldn’t play until he felt he was 100 percent ready.